A Guide To EVERY Festival In Disney World's EPCOT

In Walt Disney World, EPCOT has become the park known as Festival Central, and you have four amazing events to choose from. Planning a Disney vacation to coincide with one of these festivals is a great way to add some extra fun to your trip!

Welcome to EPCOT

Whether you want to explore the Arts, view colorful floral displays, sip on wine flights, or listen to holiday storytellers, there is a festival for you!

The EPCOT Festivals are:

EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival
EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Let’s explore these festive happenings!

EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

The EPCOT Festival of the Arts celebrated its inaugural year in 2017 and has been flourishing ever since!

EPCOT Festival of the Arts

The event focuses on three artistic disciplines: Visual, Culinary, and Performing Arts. Spend some time observing Disney artists as they create artwork such as paintings and chalk art. At the Food Studios, indulge in dishes and drinks that are as beautiful as they are delicious. And watch a Disney on Broadway Concert, showcasing tremendously talented artists (straight from the Broadway stage) in live performances. As you leisurely stroll through EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts, you’ll find extra activities around every corner.

Food Studios

We love the art-inspired food and beverages. The Festival of the Arts features Food Studios located around EPCOT! In 2023, 16 Food Studios and additional locations delivered enhanced menu items to Festival guests. Unique to the Festival of the Arts is a focus on presentation of the dishes. Many food items are their own works of art!

Mille-Feuille de Betteraves aux Herbes et Noix de Cajoux

The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine gives guests the chance to sample several items at the Food Studios!

Upon completion, you’ll receive an ADDITIONAL — and complimentary — treat (with a possible bonus treat!) for your artful efforts. This is a fun activity for the whole family!

Performing Arts

The Disney on Broadway Concert Series features performances by some of Broadway’s most accomplished actors and actresses singing some of Disney’s popular songs. These shows take place at the America Gardens Theatre in The American Adventure pavilion.

American Gardens Theatre

You can find the full lineup of artists for 2023 here as we await the 2024 lineup!

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts are celebrated with various exhibits and hands-on experiences, along with a few more artistic touches along the way! Be sure to pick up and refer to the Festival of the Arts Passport at EPCOT. More than 100 Disney and visiting artists appeared at the Festival of the Arts in 2023.

Artist in EPCOT

Enjoy watching the creative process live through Art in Performance, including Chalk Artists along the bridge from World Celebration to World Showcase Plaza. Even if you miss the artists working themselves — you can ALWAYS stop to admire the finished creations!

Chalk Art

And families can visit the Kids’ Chalk Art area on the bridge to World Showcase Plaza, where kids can create their own masterpieces!

Let the kids draw some chalk art!

Or leave your own artistic mark on EPCOT at the Expression Section, located in World Nature.

Have some fun painting!

The Interactive Wall Mural gives guests the chance to paint their own small section of what will become a HUGE piece of artwork during the Festival!

Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt

Are you bringing a little budding artist to the Festival of the Arts? Children (and adults!) can search for Figment in famous works of art strategically located around World Showcase with Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt! Don’t worry — you just need to follow the clues!

Hello Figment!

Upon completing the scavenger hunt, guests can head to Disney Traders or World Traveler with their completed map and receive an “artful” surprise!

Festival Merchandise

Be on the lookout for Festival of the Arts merchandise both in major shopping spots (like Creations Shop and Art of Disney) as well as pop-up event merchandise kiosks. You’ll find the usual souvenirs such as mugs, shirts, and magnets.

Figment Festival of the Arts Mug

But don’t forget to look at the amazing artwork for sale at the Festival Markets!

The dates for the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts were January 13th through February 20th, 2023. Stay tuned for 2024 dates.

Check out our Best of the Fest — the Must-Eats and Must-Drinks — for 2023 Festival of the Arts!

MAKE THE MOST
OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS

DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest.

It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including:

🍭 Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations!
🖌 The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!)
🎨 All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more!

MORE Festival of the Arts INFO!

Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

In Walt Disney World, spring means the weather is warming up and flowers are blossoming. It’s the perfect time to visit the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival!

Encanto topiary at EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival

Debuting in 1994, this beloved event is one of Disney’s longest running Festivals. While it began as a celebration of gardening, in 2013 the festival began offering Outdoor Kitchens. The kiosks are very similar to what you’ll find at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival; in fact, the structures are the same for both events. You’ll find dishes that celebrate the flavors of the “host” country, with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Outdoor Kitchens

Outdoor Kitchens are set up on the Promenade and around EPCOT’s World Showcase Lagoon. These booths provide enhanced food offerings to guests at the Flower and Garden Festival. The Festival’s Flower and Garden Passport is available to help you locate all the Outdoor Kitchens and activities available.

Grilled Vegetable Bruschetta

There are over 15 Food Booths for 2023 (plus a few specialty offerings at additional locations around the park) serving up fresh-from-the-GARDEN flavors!

Lime Dole Whip

Try the Garden Graze — a plant-based food stroll through the Flower and Garden Festival. Be sure to get your Festival Passport stamped at each location where you purchase a Garden Graze item so you can claim your prize!

Garden Rocks Concert Series

The popular Garden Rocks Concert Series performances are free with EPCOT admission and take place at the America Gardens Theatre.

Berlin at Garden Rocks in 2023

Internationally known artists will perform Friday through Monday; local bands will rock the house Tuesday through Thursday.

Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration

For a small fee, the whole family can have fun on Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration!

Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration

The Disney honeybee named Spike pollinates his way around the festival and guests can follow his trail! When the map is complete, guests can return it to Disney Traders or World Traveler to choose a springtime surprise!

Topiaries

The Festival is included in regular EPCOT admission (with a few additional activities typically available for participation at a low cost). And, of course, the gorgeous Disney Character Topiaries all around the park enhance everyone’s visit to EPCOT!

Mickey & Minnie in bloom!

For 2023, a new Princess Tiana topiary can be seen in The American Adventure pavilion, and a NEW “Encanto” topiary scene features Mirabel, Antonio, Isabela, and Luisa near the park’s main entrance!

Snow White topiary

Plus, check out returning favorites such as Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook and Tick Tock Croc, Figment, Anna and Elsa, and more.

Global Gardens

A springtime stroll around EPCOT presents opportunities to enjoy beautiful Gardens all around the park!

Gorgeous flowers!

From a Tropical Rainforest Garden in the Mexico pavilion, to the English Tea Garden and Shakespeare Garden in the United Kingdom, to a Bamboo Garden in China, and MUCH more, you’re only just steps away from finding the next spring-inspired scene!

Welcome to the Butterfly House

The Butterfly House, for instance, allows guests to visit beautiful butterflies each day until dusk.

Festival Merchandise

A full range of Festival merchandise is available to commemorate your visit to the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival.

Snow White Ears

Look for items including apparel, glassware, kitchenware, and magnets — and, of course, Minnie Mouse Ears — all bearing logos of the Festival and its attractions.

Tervis Tumbler

The 2023 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival dates are March 1st through July 5th! Stay tuned for 2024 information.

Click HERE to find our Best of the Fest! EVERYTHING You Need to Eat and Drink at the 2023 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival

EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

Recognized as a fan favorite, the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival began in 1996 with 25 Marketplaces situated around World Showcase.

2022 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

The success of the event is undeniable. Now a destination for food lovers from all over the world, this event was previously exclusive to the fall, but now begins in the summer months.

Chef Daisy Duck

Featuring over 25 delicious Global Marketplace Food Booths (as well as a Concert Series, additional family-friendly activities, and MORE), this annual event should be noted on your vacation calendar!

Global Marketplaces

The food booths at the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival offer small, tapas-sized plates and/or small servings of alcohol that are associated with the region of the world or theme that the booth represents.

Spain Booth

Graze the marketplace booths to try many different menu items!

Eat to the Beat Concert Series

Throughout the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, popular bands across all genres from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and even the 00s take the stage at the America Gardens Theatre. Listen to some of their greatest hits during the Eat to the Beat Concert Series!

98 Degrees Performed at Eat to the Beat — 2022

These concerts are free with EPCOT admission, and typically take place three times per evening throughout the duration of the Festival.

Remy’s Ratatouille Hide ‘n’ Squeak Scavenger Hunt

Guests can expect fun for the whole family at the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival including Remy’s Ratatouille Hide ‘n’ Squeak Scavenger Hunt!

These are the prizes for Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak

In this activity, you’ll go on a scavenger hunt in search of little Remy statuettes hidden all around the park.

Seminars and Demonstrations

From pairing meals around EPCOT to culinary demonstrations and beverage seminars, several high-end Special Events have been offered at the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! However, Special Events have been on hiatus for the past few years.

Cook alongside a Disney Chef

In the future, we hope to see the return of culinary demonstrations and wine/beverage seminars — these were a highlight for many guests!

Festival Merchandise

A full range of Festival merchandise will be available to commemorate your visit to the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival!

Food and Wine Festival Merch

When shopping during the Festival, check the Creations Shop in World Celebration, as well as other merchandise locations and kiosks around the park for exclusive items, including Port of Entry and World Traveler.

The 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival dates are July 27th – November 18th!

Click here to check out the 2022 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Booths, Menus, and FOOD Photos as we await the 2023 menus!

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

During the Winter Holiday season, EPCOT transforms into a wonderland of international celebration. The Pavilions in World Showcase sparkle as they commemorate holidays and festivals from all over, and EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays brings all of the festivities together.

Festival of the Holidays in EPCOT

The centerpiece of EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays is the Candlelight Processional. Taking place most nights from late November through the end of December, this traditional retelling of the Christmas Story features a celebrity narrator accompanied by a choir and orchestra. Many guests feel that the Candlelight Processional is the perfect way to celebrate the message of hope and love the season brings.

Festival of the Holidays 2022

Throughout World Showcase, guests can also take in stories and performances that celebrate traditions from every culture during this important time of year. But that’s not all — there’s food too!

Holiday Kitchens

Holiday celebrations the world over share something in common: a major aspect of the season is FOOD. The food booths — referred to as Holiday Kitchens for this event — operate much like the Marketplace Booths for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival.

Mini Funnel Cake with Peppermint Ice Cream

When you enter the park, be sure to pick up a FREE Festival of the Holidays Passport.

Candlelight Processional

Walt Disney World’s EPCOT has always been a beloved destination for guests visiting during the Holiday Season. The Candlelight Processional is an endearing, traditional way to celebrate the Christmas Story.

2022 EPCOT Candlelight Processional

A celebrity narrator shares the Christmas story accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and choir (composed of a Disney Cast Member choir along with an ever-changing group of guest choirs from around the country).

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition made its debut in 2020 and has returned each year since.

Olaf!!!

Get ready for a festive seasonal Scavenger Hunt! Guests can go on a hunt around World Showcase looking for holiday traditions that Olaf has gathered — and lost — along the way.

World Showcase Storytellers

The Festival of the Holidays offers guests a glimpse into how different cultures celebrate the winter holidays.

Holiday Storytellers in Norway

At the World Showcase pavilions, guests are invited to hear Holiday Storytellers share the traditions that are integral parts of the season in the country they represent.

Holiday Attraction Overlays

The classic attraction Living with the Land — located in The Land pavilion in EPCOT’s World Nature — gets dressed up for the season with a lovely light display at night!

Merry and Bright

Walt Disney Imagineers also add extra holiday touches to Journey into Imagination with Figment and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Festival Merchandise

And of course, no Festival is complete without some festive merchandise! Whether you’re picking up souvenirs or finishing your holiday shopping, you’ll find beautiful ornaments, mugs, and more!

Passholder Ornament

You’ll want to make your list — and check it twice! — for fun finds including Festival of the Holidays apparel.

The 2022 Festival of the Holidays ran from November 25th through December 30th. Stay tuned for 2023 information.

Click HERE to Check Out the 2022 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Menus and Food Photos as we await 2023 info!

Whether an EPCOT festival is a fun diversion or the reason for your Disney World trip, you’ll find a whole world of fun! We have plenty of planning tips at the included links, such as the best food and beverages, how to avoid crowds, and where you’ll find unique activities.

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